Image copyrightLancashire PoliceImage caption
John Tracey denied rape but was found guilty by the jury at Preston Crown Court

A "predatory" rapist who plied a girl with alcohol before subjecting her to a "horrific ordeal" has been jailed, more than 20 years after the attack.

John Tracey, of Station Road in Gillingham, Kent, denied raping the 14-year-old at a flat in Thornton, near Blackpool, Lancashire.

But the 42-year-old was found guilty at Preston Crown Court of the November 1996 attack and jailed for 10 years.

He has a previous conviction for raping a girl aged 12 in 2003, police said.

'Overpowered his victim'

After sentencing, Det Con Emma Shuttleworth of Lancashire Police said she was pleased Tracey had been "brought to justice" for the rape, which the victim reported in 2015.

"Tracey is clearly a predatory man who overpowered his victim at a former address in Thornton and subjected her to a horrific ordeal," said Det Con Shuttleworth.

She added: "The victim has shown a tremendous amount of courage throughout this investigation and subsequent trial and I hope the result will allow her to begin to put this ordeal behind her and move forward with her life."